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Players of the Week: Week 18

02/05/2018, 3:45pm CST

By USHL

Ashbrook, Mitchell, Mann all earn first career weekly honors.

The United States Hockey League announced the Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week for Week 18 of the 2017-18 season. Lincoln Stars forward Tristan Ashbrook, Omaha Lancers defenseman Travis Mitchelland Fargo Force goaltender Strauss Mannall earned their first career USHL weekly honors. Ashbrook recorded six points in three games last week, including a three-point night on Tuesday, Mitchell dished out three assists in two games to help Omaha move into a tie atop the USHL standings and Mann allowed just one goal in each of his appearances over the weekend, including a 31-save performance in a win on Saturday. The USHL is America’s only Tier 1 junior hockey league, and continues to lead the world in the advancement of Division I college hockey athletes.

Forward: Tristan Ashbrook - Lincoln Stars

3 GP: 2 goals, 4 assists, +6 rating

Ashbrook scored a goal and added two assists in Lincoln's victory over Sioux City on Tuesday before recording points in each of his two games over the weekend. The RPI commit scored the game-winning goal in the Stars' 5-3 road triumph at Team USA on Friday before added two more helpers on Saturday as Lincoln completed the weekend sweep with a 4-3 victory. In 35 games this season, Ashbrook has recorded 17 points (8G, 9A), good for eighth on Lincoln in scoring. He also has nine points (4G, 5A) in his last nine games. The Manistique, MI native is in his first season with Lincoln and was drafted in the 20th round, 314th overall by the Stars in the 2017 USHL Phase II Draft. He previously played for the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) and Omaha AAA (NAPHL).

Defenseman: Travis Mitchell - Omaha Lancers

2 GP: 0 goals, 3 assists, +6 rating

Mitchell dished out a pair of assists in Omaha's 8-1 win over Central Illinois on Friday before adding his third assist of the weekend to help the Lancers to a weekend sweep of the Flying Aces. The two victories also moved Omaha into a tie atop the USHL standings. The Cornell commit has been a steady veteran presence on the blue line for the top team in the Western Conference, recording 10 points (2G, 8A) in 29 games with the Lancers after being acquired from the Muskegon Lumberjacks earlier in the season. Mitchell is in his second USHL season and was named to the 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, where he recorded an assist. The South Lyon, MI native has tallied 16 points (4G, 12A) in 70 career USHL games. He was originally drafted by Muskegon in the 21st round, 331st overall in the 2016 USHL Phase II Draft and played for Honeybaked (HPHL) prior to his time in the USHL.

Goaltender: Strauss Mann - Fargo Force

1-1-0-0, 1.01 GAA, .966 SV%

Mann made 26 saves on 27 shots against Muskegon on Friday before leading the Force to a weekend split with the Lumberjacks thanks to a 31-save performance. The University of Michigan commit has had a fantastic first USHL season between the pipes, as he currently sports an 11-6-0-2 record, a 2.01 GAA and a .932 SV%. His GAA places him fourth among all USHL goaltenders while his SV% is good for third in the league. He has also recorded a pair of shutouts this year, tied for fourth in the league and has only allowed more than two goals six times over the course of his 20 appearances so far this season. The Greenwich, CT native was added as a free agent by Fargo over the summer and previously played for Brunswick School (USHS) and the Mid-Fairfield/Connecticut Jr. Rangers (USPHL).

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 16th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2017-18. 30 or more players from the USHL have been selected in five consecutive NHL Drafts, and more than 400 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent.